Label applicator device

Abstract

A label applicator device for applying a label to the surface of a substantially rectangular package in a selected orientation includes a package conveyor for presenting a package at an applicator station, control means for manually selecting a first or a second label orientation, and applicator means. The applicator means is responsive to a control means and receives a label at an output station. The applicator means applies the label to the surface of the package in a first orientation with respect to the package or in a second orientation with respect to the package. The second orientation is rotated approximately 90° with respect to the first orientation. The applicator means includes a cam and cam follower arrangement which provides for rotation of a portion of an applicator head which engages each label.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A label applicator device for applying a label to the surface of a substantially rectangular package in a selected orientation, comprising: package conveyor means for presenting a package at an applicator station,   control means for selecting first or second label orientations,   applicator means, responsive to said control means, for receiving a label at a label output station and for applying said label to the surface of said package, said label being applied in a first orientation with respect to said package or in a second orientation with respect to said package, said second orientation being rotated approximately 90° with respect to said first orientation.   
     
     
       2. The label applicator device of claim 1 in which said applicator means comprises means for receiving a label at a label output station and either applying said label to said package surface after rotation of said label in its plane by approximately 90° or applying said label to said package surface without rotation of said label. 
     
     
       3. The label applicator device of claim 1 in which said control means comprises manually actuatable control means, movable between a first control position in which said first orientation is selected and a second control position in which said second orientation is selected. 
     
     
       4. The label applicator device of claim 3 in which said applicator means comprises: an applicator head having a rotatable head portion and a nonrotatable head portion, said rotatable head portion defining a vacuum opening in a label contacting surface,   means for moving said head to said label output station for receipt by said head of a label on said label contacting surface and for moving said head from said label output station to said applicator station, and   means, responsive to said control means, for rotating said rotatable portion of said head after a label is received thereby and prior to application of said label to a package, whereby said label may be rotated in its plane by approximately 90°.   
     
     
       5. The label applicator device of claim 4 in which said label output station is substantially above said applicator station and in which said means for moving said head includes means for vertically moving said head between said label output station and said applicator station, whereby a label may be applied to the top surface of a package. 
     
     
       6. The label applicator device of claim 5 in which said means for moving said head comprises head support means, attached to said nonrotatable head portion, for supporting said head, and head drive means for raising and lowering said head support means. 
     
     
       7. The label applicator of claim 6 in which said means, responsive to said control means, for rotating said rotatable head portion comprises: cam means defining a stationary cam surface,   cam follower means mounted on said head support means in contact with said cam surface for movement therealong in synchronism with vertical movement of said head,   means for biasing said cam follower means into contact with said cam means, and   cam linkage means, connecting said cam follower means and said rotatable head portion, for rotating said rotatable head portion as said cam follower means moves along said cam surface.   
     
     
       8. The label applicator of claim 7 in which said means for biasing said cam follower means comprises spring means for urging said cam follower means into contact with said cam surface. 
     
     
       9. The label applicator of claim 7 in which said cam means comprises means defining a first cam surface for contact with said cam follower means, said first cam surface configured to produce rotation of said rotatable head portion as said cam follower means moves therealong, and   means, connected to said control means, defining a second cam surface and movable into position adjacent said first cam surface such that said cam follower means contacts said second cam surface instead of said first cam surface, said second cam surface configured to prevent rotation of said rotatable head portion as said cam follower means moves therealong,   whereby said cam follower means contacts said first cam surface and said rotatable head portion is rotated when said control means is in said second control position, and said cam follower means contacts said second cam surface and said rotatable head portion is not rotated when said control means is in said first control position.   
     
     
       10. The label applicator of claim 9 in which said control means comprises a control lever movable between first and second control positions.